The newly formed Providence St. Joseph Health, which on Friday became the nation’s third-largest nonprofit health system, announced a $100 million mental health initiative on Tuesday.

The Institute for Mental Health and Wellness will serve residents in the seven states where Irvine-based St. Joseph Health and Renton, Wash.-based Providence Health and Services own a combined 50 hospitals.

When the state Attorney General’s Office signed off on the merger last month, it included a condition that the new entity invest $30 million in mental health services for Californians. Providence St. Joseph Health decided to increase the funding and create a systemwide foundation that will focus on research, prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

“This is a growing need in our society and in all the communities we serve from Alaska all the way to Texas,” Annette Walker, division president of St. Joseph Health, said in an interview Tuesday. “Mental health is a big concern. We’ve always been committed to serving the body, mind and spirit of an individual. This is an area where we’re going to put significantly more resources.”

Walker said funding largely will come from community benefit budgets, which is money nonprofits must spend on charity care and health improvement programs because of their tax-exempt status.

The funds will be used to address a variety of needs from homelessness to addiction to depression. A committee of national experts in business, government and science will be formed to help advise how the money is spent, including grants available to community groups.

“The acute care hospital can’t be where all these needs are taken care of,” she said.

Paul Leon, CEO of the Illumination Foundation, an Irvine nonprofit serving the homeless, said he hopes the new initiative will create innovative programs such as a partnership with St. Joseph Hospital in Orange to keep homeless adults from visiting the emergency room for minor ailments by providing them housing and nursing care.

“Right now, we can go to St. Joe’s and explain what we need to do and they’ll fund it,” Leon said. “I hope they’ll continue that kind of response to our community.”

In Los Angeles County, six hospitals are part of Providence St. Joseph Health, including Little Company of Mary Medical Centers in San Pedro and Torrance and other facilities in Tarzana, Mission Hills, Burbank and Santa Monica.

Courtney Perkes has covered the medical beat for the Register since 2005. She was queasy when she watched surgery for the first time (a knee replacement) especially when a drop of blood splattered in her notebook! She loves writing about public health issues as well as the courage and resilience of patients facing illness. Courtney strives to lead a healthy lifestyle that includes yoga and not microwaving plastic. She is a graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism.